Multiple terminal connector



March 19, 1968 w. B. EVANS 3,37

MULT I PLE TERMI NAL CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR WHO/VSFOEDB. E l/A/VS I BY )1 MW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,374,456 MULTELETERMINAL CONNEQTOR Wronsford B. Evans, 1106 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria,Va. 22307 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 502,257 3 Claims. (Cl. 33932)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A multiple connector for a plurality ofelectrical wires and the like wherein a connector body has aligned upperand lower threaded bores and a plurality of openings transverselydisposed to and intersecting the upper threaded bore, a set screw in theupper threaded bore engages a wire extending through one of suchopenings and retains it in the connector body; the set screw bashportion extending out of the upper threaded bore whereby the lowerthreaded bore of a second connector body may be stacked thereon.

This invention relates to multiple terminal connectors for wires, cablesand the like, and, in particular, to such a connector for staking aplurality of electrical conductors in a prearranged sequence.

An object of the present invention is to stack and space angularly aplurality of conductor terminals.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a polygonal sidednut for clamping a wire at any angle thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an electric terminal embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 with additional connectorsin staked arrangement.

In practicing the present invention, a preferred embodiment of aconnector for electric wires or the like includes a body member havingmounting means on one end and having bore means on another end, aplurality of opening means in the body member spaced from each other andcommunicating with the bore means, and retaining means in the bore meansadapted to retain wire means in said opening means.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention includes a base member, indicated generally at 10, having amounting aperture 12 in one end of a fiat strip 13 and a connector body16 extending transversely from the other end thereof. The connector body16 has a transverse opening 18 for receiving the end of a electricconductor wire or cable 180. The top of the connector body 16, as viewedin FIG. 3, has a centrally disposed threaded bore 20 which communicateswith the opening 18 and which receives a set screw 22 that retains orclamps the end of wire 18c therein.

A lead washer 24 is seated on the top of connector body 16 and the setscrew 22 has a portion protruding out of the threaded bore 20 andthrough the washer 24. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, a connector bodymember, indicated generally at 26, has a lower threaded bore 28 wherebythe connector body 26 may be threaded onto ice the protruding portion ofthe set screw 22 in the lower connector body 16. Because of the leadwasher, the two connector bodies 16 and 26 may be an-gularly adjustedrelative to each other.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector body 26 is a polygonalsided member, in this case a hexagon, with intersecting through bores30, 32 and 34 transversely extending through each side. The top ofconnector body 26 has a centrally disposed threaded bore 36 whichcommunicates with the intersection of the bores 30, 32 and 34 and whichreceives the inner end of a set screw 38 that retains or clamps the endof a wire 30c inserted in one of the bores, i.e., in bore 30.

From the foregoin it is apparent that the connector body 26 may have anydesired number of transversely extending bores and may be of anysuitable conforming shape, such as a cylinder, cube, etc. As is apparentin FIG. 4, the number of connector bodies that may be stacked isunlimited and there is no need to bend or deform the numerous wiresconnected thereto. For example, with the base connector 10 defining aground terminal, a first ground wire 18a is connected thereto byconnector body 26, the set screw 22 and a second groufid wire 34cfastened to the connector body 26 which is mounted on the top of setscrew 22. The lead washer 24 facilitates angular adjustment between theconnectors 16 and 26 and assures good electrical conductivitytherebetween. The connector bodies 126 and 226 define stackingconnectors for third and fourth wires 132C and 2300, respectively; sincetheir structures are identical to connector body 26, the same referencenumerals added to and 200, respectively, are utilized.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subjected to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown on the accompanyingdrawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for electric wires and the like comprising a body memberhaving mounting means on one end having bore means on another end, aplurality of opening means in said body member spaced from each otherand communicating with said bore means, retaining means in said boremeans adapted to retain wire means in said opening means, said retainingmeans having a portion protruding out of said bore means to definefastening means, and a second body member having mounting means thereonbeing fastened to the protruding portion of said retaining means.

2. In a connector device for electric wires and the like, thecombination comprising a plurality of connector body members, each bodymember having mounting means on one end and threaded bore means onanother end and having a plurality of opening means spaced from eachother and communicating with said bore means, clamping screw means insaid bore means adapted to retain a wire in one of said opening means,said clamping screw means having a portion protruding out of said boremeans, said protruding portion defining fastening means securing themounting means on an adjacent connector body member, and washer meansdisposed between said plurality of connector body members to facilitateadjustment therebetween.

3. In a connector, the combination comprising a polygonal sidedconnector member having openings through each side, a threaded bore inits lower portion transversely disposed to said openings and defining amounting bore, a threaded bore in its upper portion transverselyReferences Cited disposed to and in communication with said openings,UNITED STATES PATENTS a set screw in the threaded bore of the upperportion for clamping a Wire in one of said openings, said set 446,8712/1891 screw having an outer portion protruding out of the 5 1,1035447/1914 Smth 339-249 threaded bore of the upper portion, a secondconnector 1,659,312 2/1928 Colweu 339272 member attached to the outerportion of said set screw, 2,984,818 5/1961 Logan 339 272 and washermeans disposed between the said polygonal sided connector member and thesecond connector member to facilitate angular adjustment therebetween.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

m JOSEPH H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

